Hideki Matsuyama shot a 3-under 68 to claim a one-shot lead after the third round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. The two-time champion sits at 13-under par, with Ryo Hisatsune, Nicolai Højgaard, Maverick McNealy and Si Woo Kim tied for second at 12-under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler carded a 67 to reach 8-under, remaining five shots back heading into Sunday.
The third round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open unfolded with steady scoring on the firm greens of TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course, setting up a crowded leaderboard for the final day. Hideki Matsuyama, seeking a record third victory at the event, birdied three of his first four holes, including a 27-footer on the par-3 fourth, to build a two-shot advantage midway through his round. Despite missed opportunities on the closing holes—failing to get up-and-down on the par-4 17th and leaving a 15-foot birdie on the lip at 18—he finished at 13-under 200, one clear of the chasing pack.
Ryo Hisatsune, the 36-hole leader after an 8-under 63 on Friday, matched Matsuyama through 17 holes but bogeyed the 18th from a greenside bunker to slip to 12-under with a 70. Nicolai Højgaard fired a bogey-free 65, highlighted by five birdies in his final six holes, while Maverick McNealy and Si Woo Kim also posted 65s, with McNealy stringing together four birdies in five back-nine holes and Kim eagling the par-5 third.
Scottie Scheffler, who stumbled with a 2-over 73 in the opening round—his first over-par score since June 2025—continued his recovery with a bogey-free 65 on Friday and a 67 Saturday. After adjusting his grip, he holed a bunker shot for birdie on the 10th and added gains on the par-5s at 13 and 15, moving to 8-under. "I think one of the things I’m most proud of is the consistent results I’ve had over the years," Scheffler said, reflecting on his 66 consecutive cuts made. He recalled winning from nine back in 2022, noting, "If I can get out there and make a few birdies on the harder nine and get some momentum going into the back, you never know what can happen."
With nine players within two shots of the lead and a $9.6 million purse on the line, Sunday's finale promises drama amid the rowdy Phoenix crowds. Matsuyama's history here—wins in 2016 and 2017—gives him an edge, but Scheffler's resilience and the pursuers' momentum keep the door open for an upset.
